This study deals with the effect of in vitro digestion on the functional potential of traditional Serbian white-brined cheeses. The total antioxidant capacity, reducing power and iron (II) chelating properties as well as angiotensin-converting enyzme-inhibitory (ACE-inhibitory) and antimicrobial activities of traditional Serbian white-brined cheeses before and after in vitro digestion were assayed. The traditional cheeses had different antioxidant properties as well as different ACE-inhibitory activities. In vitro digestion improved the total antioxidant capacity (8.42⁻58.56 times) and the reducing power (by 17.90⁻99.30%) of investigated cheeses, whereas their chelating ability was slightly improved or unaffected after digestion. In vitro digestion reduced the ACE-inhibitory potential of water-soluble protein fractions, and digested water-insoluble fractions were the major source of ACE-inhibitory peptides. The digestates did not exhibit any antibacterial potential, whereas they showed moderate antifungal potential toward selected micromycetes. The best antifungal potential had Svrljig ovine cheese and Homolje cow cheese. The results of this study clearly point to a significant functionality of traditional white-brined cheeses.
Keywords: functionality; in vitro digestion; white-brined cheeses.